Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana to Japan Hotsireene Morake held a solo exhibition of Japanese calligrapher and Japanese-style painter Takui Maruyama at the Aomori Museum of Art (Yasuda, Aomori City) from February 4th to 7th. I visited Aomori for the first time to visit the TANKEI EXHIBITION.

The Republic of Botswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa with a tropical climate in the north. Maruyama's connection with Maruyama began in 2013, when he was invited by the Japanese Embassy in the country to give a calligraphy demonstration at the University of Botswana with his younger brother Chiyaki Maruyama. . Since then, Mr. Maruyama, who has built a connection with the Republic of Botswana by teaching calligraphy and painting to local students, will hold a solo exhibition in Aomori. I decided to visit Aomori with the group. Mr. Maruyama said, "I want you to enjoy Aomori as well as just appreciate the solo exhibition."

On the 5th, Ambassador Morake and his party visited Ohoshi Shrine (Myoken) with Mr. Maruyama to pray for the success of his solo exhibition. Yuichi Kudo, who is responsible for the shrine, said, "The ambassador was happy to see Ohoshi Shrine as 'beautiful.' He also participated in the prayer ceremony, and felt a deep connection with Mr. Maruyama."

On the next day, the 6th, I visited Mr. Kudo's home. In a Japanese-style room with a Shinto altar and a Buddhist altar, we listened to explanations about the history and anecdotes of Ohoshi Shrine, the ``sacred sake'' that is offered to the Shinto altar, and spent time looking at photos of a weeping cherry tree over 350 years old that blooms in the precincts of the shrine in spring. . When the ambassador's party left, Mr. Kudo showed off the snow with a snow blower, saying, "It will be a memory of Aomori." Cheers erupted from the party as the snow was blown away. Ambassador Morake said, “I want to try it too,” and operated the snow blower. I enjoyed watching the road being built on the site where about 60 centimeters of snow had piled up. Next, the Ambassador's wife also experienced it, and was surprised and delighted to see the snow blowing up close.

According to Mr. Maruyama, Ambassador Morake ate sashimi and sushi at a dinner party on the night of the 6th, and was delighted to hear that "Aomori fish is delicious." "The ambassador probably doesn't like raw food, but he enjoyed his meal. He seems to have become a fan of Aomori after enjoying Aomori's snowy scenery and food," he said with a smile.

On the 7th, Ambassador Morake participated in the ribbon cutting at the reception on the first day of Mr. Maruyama's solo exhibition and appreciated the work. Mr. Maruyama said, “I am happy that the ambassador was able to experience the Japanese culture of living together with Shintoism and Buddhism, as well as the nature of Aomori. If the opportunity arises," he said with hope.